Summer Spotlight: Anthony Macapugay, Sports Information Director
We take a break from our spotlights featuring our student-athletes and give you the opportunity to get to know some of our staff better.
Anthony Macapugay has served as the Brooklyn Campus' first full-time sports information director since 2008. In that capacity, he is responsible for the promotion and media relations for all 13 intercollegiate varsity sports and club teams. Among his numerous responsbilities, Macapugay manages the Athletic Department's website, www.SJCBears.com, and all social media accounts. He's also an avid golfer, but I'm sure you can't tell that from his Spotlight.
About you
Where I went to college and major…
Boston College where I received a B.S. in Management with a concentration in Computer Science.
How I came to work St. Joseph's…
What most people don't know is that Frank and I have known each other for 20+ years through the St. Stan's Athletic League, which he started in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. In the early years of SJC Athletics, before Frank had even become Athletic Director, I had helped with some game day positions, serving as statistician and PA announcer and later I had held the position of Sports Information Director on a part-time basis for two years.
When the NCAA provisional process began, Frank had the opportunity to create a full-time position. Although I had a successful career in IT at a large global financial services firm, I wasn't inspired anymore working in the corporate world and decided to make a career change. I just completed my sixth season as full-time Sports Information Director and have not regretted it since. How can you complain when you get paid to watch sports for a living?
My dream job is…
After that story, you're saying this isn't my dream job? I'd love to be a country club golf professional and get paid to golf all day and give lessons.
Summer plans…
Play golf. Frequent Smorgasburg or places on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Golf. Go to the beach and get tan. Golf. Go to concerts (I've seen Paramore/Fall Out Boy (twice), Dave Matthews Band (twice), Counting Crows, Billy Joel and still looking for more shows to go to). Golf. Went to the Dominican Republic with my girlfriend (where I also golfed). Play in our annual summer basketball league at St. Stan's. (I'm on Frank's team and we're in last place, lol). Oh did I forget to mention, play some more golf?
A unique/interesting talent of mine…
People think I look at least five years younger than I really am.
Personal goal for the upcoming year…
To reach Yelp Elite status.
On being part of the Bears Family...
What I actually do over the summer with no students around…
Summers for me are actually pretty busy (when I'm not golfing). After the awards banquet, it usually takes me a couple of weeks to unwind from the craziness of the season. Then I recharge my batteries and get some new ideas meeting my fellow SIDs at the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Convention, held this year in Orlando. Then most of the summer revolves around updating record books and archives. This summer is also crazy in that in addition to some projects to get ready for opening the gym, I'm also in the middle of a website redesign. Look for an all new SJCBears.com this Fall.
Professional goal for the upcoming season…
For the first time ever, Brooklyn is going to have a true home facility and I'm excited to help take our game day experience to a the next level. I look forward to coming up with new ways to promote Athletics, our student-athletes and the new facility, such as increased video and features like this.
Best Bears/Lady Bears moment…
Oh man, there have been so many. The one that stands out were Softball finishing in 3rd place at USCAA Nationals in 2010. Softball was memorable because the team looked like it would go two-and-out, trailing 3-2 with the game vs. Southern State postponed due to rain after six innings. When the game resumed the next day (which also happened to be my birthday), Caitlyn Kakavas, my workstudy student, hit a walk-off single to escape elimination. In the 3rd place game against local rivals Briarcliffe, the Lady Bears won with another walk-off victory, Millicia Malvasio driving in the lone run in a 1-0 win in the bottom of the 7th.
Funniest FPC moment…
He might not find it his funniest moment, but the time Frank's bike got run over by the bus in Ohio. I wasn't there when it happened as I was in the press box, but assistant coach Luke [Klimaszewski] called me when it happened and sent me the following picture.
A close second would be when Frank threw his phone across our hotel room when it stopped working in the middle of an important conference call to select the AD3I All-Independent teams.
Favorite road trip so far…
A softball spring break trip to Arizona about seven years ago was most memorable. We squeezed five guys into a room, shared one bathroom, and Luke [Klimaszewski] and Gracia [Gustave] shared a pull out couch – they were student managers at the time. Other memorable trips were with women's basketball to Louisville, with softball to Puerto Rico, and how could I forget getting married in the hotel in Illinois after USCAA Softball Nationals.
Favorite place to eat on road trips…
Definitely NOT Golden Corral. Steak 'N Shake or Chik 'fil A
If you could switch places with any SJC Athletics staff member, who would you choose and why?
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is getting to be part of the team, traveling with them and getting to celebrate in their successes. The only other positions on staff that have that benefit on a daily basis are Oscar and Iris [the Sports Medicine staff].
On being social media famous…
Twitter or Facebook?
Number of…
Twitter followers: 302 (@amacapugay)
Facebook friends: 690
Instagram followers: 263 (@amacapugay)
The most likes you've received on an Instagram photo and what was the photo of?
66 likes on a photo of me back in March sitting in my future new office. I can't wait to move in.
True or false? I overuse hashtags.
#CantHelpIt #ButTheyreFunny #SJCBears #WeAreBC
Your favorites…
Favorite place to eat around campus…
Favorite sports team(s)…
BC Eagles, Jets (long-time suffering season ticket holder), Rangers, Nets, Yankees, USMNT, USWNT, Duke Basketball
Favorite professional athlete (past or present) …
Tiger Woods
Favorite TV show…
Sportscenter. Does that count as a show? All-time favorite show would have to be Friends. Current shows, Newsroom and Homeland
Favorite SJC Professor…
Dewey Golkin
Favorite SJC Staff member…
Jackie Collins
Final thoughts…
Anything you'd like to share with all the fans out there …
The opening of the new facility is a game changer for the Brooklyn Campus and I truly believe it will not only will benefit Athletics and the student-athletes, but the entire Brooklyn student body and faculty and staff as a whole. I'm excited to see how these changes will take place over the upcoming year and I look forward to seeing some new faces in the stands when we host our first true home games on campus. And don't forget to visit me in my new office on the second floor of the new facility!
Previous Summer Spotlights:
David Louison, Men's Basketball
Anna Carbone, Women's Volleyball and
Swimming
Kyle Johnson, Men's Soccer and Tennis
Morgan Summers, Women's Swimming and
Softball
Vinny Rossi, Baseball and Men's Soccer
Shannon Rom, Women's Soccer, Softball and
Swimming
Matt O'Neill, Men's Basketball and Soccer
Anthony Macapugay, Sports Information
Director
Maciej Siekierski, Facility Manager/Intramural &
Recreation Coordinator (August 7th)
Our Summer Spotlight
feature runs on Mondays and Thursdays. Check
back on Thursday, August 7th for our next Spotlight
and don't forget to follow our summer Top
10 list every Tuesday!